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Fred Rhue was an IndyCar visionary who gave credibility to CART series

April 24, 2012

Fred Rhue began PPG’s involvement in IndyCar for the 1980 season. PPG was the sport’s title sponsor through CART’s 1997 season. Photo by PPG Industries

A reception will be held on May 12 to honor the life of Fred Rhue, a former PPG Industries executive who keyed IndyCar sponsorship for two decades.

The Milwaukee native died on April 19 in Rocky River, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He was 81.

Rhue began PPG’s involvement in IndyCar for the 1980 season. PPG was the sport’s title sponsor through CART’s 1997 season.

“He was a real visionary with us,” said Roger Penske, who led CART’s breakaway from USAC for the 1979 season. “I went to him in Cleveland and talked about doing the PPG pace cars. He was someone who gave [CART] real credibility very early on, someone that we counted on to support the series, very proactive.

“He was able to use the series as a tool to build great show cars for the OEMs, so he was able to do business-to-business with the IndyCar Series.

“Great guy. Just class people.”

Rhue and his wife, Phyllis, have five children (Jennifer, Samuel, Rebecca, Nancy and Sally) and 10 grandchildren. Rebecca, or Becky as she is known in the racing community, was married to Scott Brayton when the two-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner was killed in a crash during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996. She later married Robbie Buhl, a former IndyCar driver who co-owns Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Private services for Rhue, a U.S. Army veteran, were held on April 23. The public reception on May 12 will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Westwood Country Club in Rocky River. RSVP to fredrhuememorial@gmail.com. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.